Timeline of sport’s response to coronavirus on Wednesday, March 18

The coronavirus pandemic continued to affect the world of sport on Wednesday.

Here, the PA news agency recaps the day’s main developments as they unfolded.

7.29am – The Artistic Gymnastics All-Around World Cup event scheduled to take place in Tokyo next month is cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. The competition had been due to serve as an Olympic test event, but Tokyo 2020 organisers still hope to carry out an “operational test” on the same dates.

Tokyo 2020 organisers still hope to carry out an “operational test” on the same dates (Adam Davy/PA)

9.09am – Crystal Palace offer staff assurances over pay during the outbreak. Chairman Steve Parish says employees who are affected by coronavirus will still receive full pay, while insisting matchday staff who have lost work due to the suspension of the league will not be out of pocket.

9.21am – John Obi Mikel has his Trabzonspor contract terminated by mutual consent after the former Chelsea midfielder took to Instagram to protest that matches in Turkey were still going ahead despite the coronavirus pandemic.

10.12am – All parkrun events in the UK are suspended until the end of March. Events in 17 countries had already been called off, with the UK decision meaning there will be no parkruns across the world for at least the next two weeks.

Chelsea Football Club is joining the medical response to the coronavirus outbreak in London with the news the National Health Service (NHS) has accepted the Club’s offer to make the Millennium Hotel at Stamford Bridge available for NHS staff… https://t.co/eENBcxRXXX

10.29am – Chelsea announce they will open the Millennium Hotel at Stamford Bridge to NHS staff to help the medical response to the coronavirus outbreak. Blues owner Roman Abramovich pledges to cover the costs of accommodation for an initial two-month period – with the west London club prepared to give over the whole hotel if required.

12.19pm – Great Britain’s ice hockey matches against Hungary next month are cancelled. Ice Hockey UK general secretary Andy French says: “We’d like to apologise to all supporters who had bought tickets for these games, but I am sure everyone will understand why they are cancelled.”

12.24pm – The Leeds round of the World Triathlon Series, due to take place on June 6 and 7, is postponed. World series races in Abu Dhabi and Bermuda had already been called off, with all triathlon activities postponed until the end of April, although the race in Yokohama scheduled for May 16-17 is currently still on the calendar.

Our update on the recreational game in light of the developing COVID-19 situation.

2.27pm – The England and Wales Cricket Board recommended all forms of recreational cricket be suspended.

2.41pm – McLaren confirmed the British mechanic who contracted coronavirus in Australia is now free of symptoms. The British team also revealed seven other staff members who were tested for the virus while in quarantine in Melbourne have all returned negative results.

4.24pm – Formula One’s governing body approved a revised shutdown period – which had been reserved for August – to enable the possibility for the sport to go racing throughout the summer. Team factories will now be ordered to close for three consecutive weeks at an elected time between now and the end of April.

The Mercedes factory will be among those having an earlier-than-scheduled factory closedown (Mercedes/PA)

4.27pm – Racing behind closed doors is set to continue in Ireland following a meeting of Horse Racing Ireland officials on Wednesday.

4.30pm – Two members of staff at the Football Association went into self-isolation after the president of the Japanese FA, who they met at the SheBelievesCup, tested positive for coronavirus. No one associated with Phil Neville’s side who played in the competition in the United States earlier this month is displaying symptoms of Covid-19, but they have been offered reassurance and advice by the FA.

5.16pm – The prestigious Le Mans 24 hour race in June was postponed until September 19-20.

5.22pm – The Scottish Football Association/Scottish Professional FootballLeague Joint Response Group released a statement saying £1.5million would be immediately released to clubs and academies to help deal with their financial problems due to games being postponed.

6pm – The entire clay-court tennis season was postponed, the ATP and WTA tours announced.

6.05pm – The English Football League announced a £50million rescue package for clubs. The EFL Trophy final between Portsmouth and Salford was also postponed.

7.55pm – Leeds revealed on-loan forward Joe Greenwood was the player who showed symptoms of coronavirus on the eve of the Rhinos’ trip to Catalans Dragons. Greenwood’s test subsequently came back positive and Leeds say four players as well as four backroom staff are self-isolating as a result of feeling unwell.

10.20pm – The PGA Tour announced South African golfer Victor Lange had tested positive for coronavirus.